Are you thinking about moving to Kansas City? It’s a little city that straddles two states, Missouri and Kansas. With a population of over 2.30 million people, you can expect to meet a good number of LGBT people. You can also expect to find some of the world’s best barbecue, attend incredible theater and musical performances, and watch a KC Royals game or two.
When you first start talking to a gay or lesbian real estate agent about moving to the area, one of your first questions will be about how welcoming the city is and what legal standing LGBT citizens have. Kansas City is unique due to the fact that half of it is in one state and half is in the other. This means that different laws apply depending on where you live. Those who live on the Kansas side are able to get married thanks to the fact that the Supreme Court declined to hear cases from the Tenth Circuit of Appeals. While it’s true that, as of December 2014, not all Kansas counties are issuing marriage licenses, this is expected to be clarified soon. Wyandotte County, the county in which most of the Kansas side of Kansas City is located, does issue same-sex licenses.
Missouri, however, is in the midst of a legal battle. The same-sex marriage ban was struck down in November of 2014, but the ruling was stayed. The attorney general has appealed the ruling to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. The state does, however, recognize marriages performed in other states, so those who are legally married in Kansas will be considered married in Missouri.
While the marriage situation is a bit uncertain in both states, Kansas City welcomes the LGBT community. The city hosts a large pride festival that crosses the state line. This huge three-day event takes place in June every year and draws people from both states.
Many of the gay districts in Kansas City are actually situated on the Missouri side. One of the most well-known is Old Briarcliff. This neighborhood sits only a few minutes from downtown. One of the biggest draws is the NAGS group – the Northland Association of Gay Society. If you enjoy spending time with others, you’ll want to join this neighborhood group.
That’s just one of the different neighborhoods popular with gays and lesbians. The Historic NorthEast, Brookside, Longfellow, and Westwood Park are all welcoming, diverse areas that many LGBT people call home.